Baluster Assembly

ABSTRACT

A baluster assembly is adapted to be disposed between an armrest and a floor. The baluster assembly includes an adjustment element and a baluster post. The adjustment element has a first end adapted to be fixed on the floor, a second end opposite to the first end, and a screw-threaded section between the first and second ends. A nut engages and is movable on the screw-threaded section. The baluster post has a sleeve-endportion sleeved onto the screw-threaded section and abutting against the nut, and an insert end opposite to the sleeve-end portion and adapted to be fitted into an insert hole in the armrest. The baluster post is co-movable with the nut relative to the screw-threaded section. A decorative cover is sleeved on the sleeve-end portion to cover the nut and junctions between the nut and the sleeve-end portion and between the nut and the screw-threaded section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a structural element used in residential and commercial buildings, more particularly to a baluster assembly.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional baluster assembly disposed between a floor 3 and an armrest 4. The conventional baluster assembly includes a baluster post 1 and a decorative cover 2. The baluster post 1 includes a first insert end 101 having a rectangular cross section, and a second insert end 102 opposite to the first insert end 101 and having a circular cross section. Since the distance between the floor 3 and the armrest 4 is shorter than the total length of the baluster post 1, the armrest 4 is provided with an insert hole 401 that has a depth and a diameter respectively larger than the length and the diameter of the second insert end 102 in order to allow mounting of the baluster post 1 between the floor 3 and the armrest 4. Thus, during assembly, the user must first move the baluster post 1 in a slanting manner (shown by the phantom lines) before the second insert end 102 can be inserted into the insert hole 401, after which the first insert end 10 is pushed to engage a mounting hole 301 in the floor 3. Finally, the decorative cover 2 is fixed to the floor 3 so as to cover a junction between the first insert end 101 and the mounting hole 301 in the floor 3.

Although the aforementioned conventional baluster assembly can achieve its intended purpose, in actual practice, it has the following drawbacks:

1. Since the insert hole 401 in the armrest 4 has a depth and a diameter that are respectively larger than the length and the diameter of the second insert end 102 of the baluster post 1, the second insert end 102 of the baluster post 1 is connected to the insert hole 401 in a loose-fitting manner after assembly. Hence, the baluster post 1 is able to undergo shaking relative to the armrest 4.

2. After the first insert end 101 is inserted into the mounting hole 301, the bottom end of the second insert end 102 is exposed outwardly of the insert hole 401, thereby adversely affecting the aesthetic appearance of the baluster post 1.

3. The bottom of the first insert end 101 is prone to scratch the floor 3 during mounting of the baluster post 1 between the floor 3 and the armrest 4. That is, when the baluster post 1 is pushed from a slanting position to engage the mounting hole 301 in the floor 3, the bottom of the first insert end 101 may scratch the floor 3.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a baluster assembly that is capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art. According to this invention, a baluster assembly is adapted to be disposed between an armrest and a floor. The armrest has an insert hole. The baluster assembly comprises an adjustment element, a nut, a baluster post, and a decorative cover. The adjustment element has a first end adapted to be fixed on the floor, a second end opposite to the first end along an axial direction, and a screw-threaded section between the first and second ends. The nut engages and is movable on the screw-threaded section. The baluster post has a sleeve-endportion sleeved onto the screw-threaded section and abutting against the nut, and an insert end opposite to the sleeve-end portion along the axial direction and adapted to be fitted into the insert hole in the armrest. The baluster post is co-movable with the nut relative to the screw-threaded section along the axial direction. The decorative cover is sleeved on the sleeve-end portion of the baluster post to cover the nut and junctions between the nut and the sleeve-end portion and between the nut and the screw-threaded section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional baluster assembly n a state of use;

FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic side view of a baluster assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an assembled schematic side view of the preferred embodiment in a state of use; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating a nut and a baluster post that are moved relative to an adjustment element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, a baluster assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is adapted to be disposed between a floor 100 and an armrest 200. The armrest 200 has an insert hole 210. The baluster assembly comprises an adjustment element 10, a nut 20, a pliable centering gasket 30, a baluster post 40, a decorative cover 50, and a lock bolt 60.

The adjustment element 10 has a first end 11, a second end 12 opposite to the first end 11 along an axial direction (A), a screw-threaded section 13 between the first and second ends 11, 12, and a self-tapping threaded section 14 connected to the screw-threaded section 13 and adapted to be driven into the floor 100 so as to fix the first end 11 on the floor 100. The self-tapping threaded section 14 is proximate to the first end 11, while the screw-threaded section 13 is proximate to the second end 12.

The nut 20 engages the screw-threaded section 13, and is movable upwardly or downwardly on the same along the axial direction (A).

The pliable centering gasket 30 is sleeved on the screw-threaded section 13.

The baluster post 40 has a sleeve-end portion 41 sleeved onto the screw-threaded section 13 and abutting against the nut 20, and an insert end 42 opposite to the sleeve-end portion 41 along the axial direction (A) and adapted to be fitted into the insert hole 210 in the armrest 200. In this embodiment, the baluster post 40 is hollow. The sleeve-end portion 41 has a rectangular cross section. The insert end 42 has a circular cross section.

The decorative cover 50 is sleeved on the sleeve-end portion 41 of the baluster post 40.

The lock bolt 60 is disposed rotatably on the decorative cover 50, and presses against the sleeve-end portion 41 of the baluster post 40 so as to lock the decorative cover 50 on the sleeve-end portion 41. When the lock bolt 60 is loosened, the decorative cover 50 can move relative to the sleeve-end portion 41.

With particular reference to FIG. 3, to mount the baluster post 40 between the floor 100 and the armrest 200, the self-tapping threaded section 14 of the adjustment element 10 is first driven into the floor 100, so that the adjustment element 10 is situated under the insert hole 210. The nut 20 is then engaged to the screw-threaded section 13, and is threaded downwardly until it abuts against the floor 10 subsequently, the pliable centering gasket 30 is sleeved downwardly onto the screw-threaded sect ion 13 until a bottom end thereof abuts against the nut 20, and the sleeve-end portion 41 is sleeved onto the pliable centering gasket 30 and the screw-threaded section 13 until the sleeve-end portion 41 also abuts against the nut 20. At this time, the pliable centering gasket 30 is disposed between the screw-threaded section 13 and the sleeve-end portion 41. The decorative cover 50 is sleeved onto the sleeve-end portion 41 prior to sleeving of the sleeve-end portion 41 onto the pliable centering gasket 30 and the screw-threaded section 13. With the lock bolt 60 in a loose state, the user can move the decorative cover 50 upwardly on the sleeve-end portion 41 so as to facilitate sleeving of the sleeve-end portion 41 onto the pliable centering gasket 30 and the screw-threaded section 13. Since the distance between the armrest 200 and the floor 100 is larger than the length of the baluster post 40, the sleeve-end portion 41 of the baluster post 40 can be easily sleeved onto the pliable centering gasket 30 and the screw-threaded section 13 of the adjustment element 10.

With reference to FIG. 4, the user can hold the decorative cover 50 while rotating the nut 20 using a wrench, so that the nut 20 can move upwardly relative to the screw-threaded section 13 along the axial direction (A). Hence, the pliable centering gasket 30 and the baluster post 40 are co-movable with the nut 20. As a result, the insert end 42 of the baluster post 40 can move upwardly into the insert hole 210. Afterwards, the decorative cover 50 is moved downwardly to contact the floor 100 so as to cover the nut 20 and junctions between the nut 20 and the sleeve-end portion 41 and between the nut 20 and the screw-threaded section 13. The lock bolt 60 is then tightened against the sleeve-end portion 41 so as to lock the decorative cover 50 on the sleeve-end portion 41.

From the aforementioned description, the advantages of the present invention may be summarized as follows:

1. Since the baluster post 40 is co-movable with the nut 20 relative to the screw-threaded section 13 of the adjustment element 10, the baluster post 40 can be made shorter than the distance between the armrest 200 and the floor 100, so that the insert end 42 of the baluster post 40 can be inserted easily into the insert hole 210. Thus, the depth and the diameter of the insert hole 210 can be substantially and respectively equal to the length and the diameter of the insert end 42. In comparison with the existing technique, the baluster post 40 of the present invention does not undergo any shaking due to size differences between the insert end 42 and the insert hole 210.

2. The baluster post 40 is co-movable upwardly with the nut 20 until the insert end 42 thereof is fully inserted into the insert hole 210 and is not exposed outwardly of the insert hole 210, thereby enhancing the aesthetic appearance of the baluster post 40.

3. Unlike the conventional baluster assembly, the sleeve-end portion 41 of the baluster post 40 is first sleeved onto the pliable centering gasket 30 and the screw-threaded section 13, after which the insert end 42 is inserted into the insert hole 210 by adjusting the nut 20. Hence, the sleeve-end portion 41 does not scratch the floor 100 during mounting of the baluster post 40.

4. Through the presence of the pliable centering gasket 30 on the screw-threaded section 13 of the adjustment element 10, when the sleeve-end portion 41 is sleeved on the screw-threaded section 13, the pliable centering gasket 30 fills in the gap between the sleeve-end portion 41 and the screw-threaded section 13, thereby preventing the sleeve-end portion 41 from shaking relative to the screw-threaded section 13.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A baluster assembly adapted to be disposed between an armrest and a floor, the armrest having an insert hole, said baluster assembly comprising: an adjustment element having a first end adapted to be fixed on the floor, a second end opposite to said first end along an axial direction, and a screw-threaded section between said first and second ends; a nut engaging and movable on said screw-threaded section; a baluster post having a sleeve-end portion sleeved onto said screw-threaded section and abutting against said nut, and an insert end opposite to said sleeve-end portion along the axial direction and adapted to be fitted into the insert hole in the armrest, said baluster post being co-movable with said nut relative to said screw-threaded section along the axial direction; and a decorative cover sleeved on said sleeve-end portion of said baluster post to cover said nut and junctions between said nut and said sleeve-end portion and between said nut and said screw-threaded section.
 2. The baluster assembly of claim 1, wherein said adjustment element further has a self-tapping threaded section connected to said screw-threaded section and adapted to be driven into the floor, said self-tapping threaded section being proximate to said first end, said screw-threaded section being proximate to said second end.
 3. The baluster assembly of claim 1, wherein said baluster post is hollow.
 4. The baluster assembly of claim 1, further comprising a pliable centering gasket sleeved on said screw-threaded section and disposed between said screw-threaded section and said sleeve-end portion of said baluster.
 5. The baluster assembly of claim 1, further comprising a lock bolt disposed on said decorative cover and pressing against said sleeve-end portion of said baluster post for locking said decorative cover on said sleeve-end portion of said baluster post. 